Teens can be difficult to deal with when it comes to following rules and living a healthy life emotionally, mentally, and physically. Parents that have teenagers find it more difficult to deal with them as they reach the middle years of their teen years because the teens are running into a higher amount of peer pressure. Teens will try certain things when they are still young such as alcohol, drugs, smoking, tobacco and sex. Some teens will like what they have tried and continue to use or will dislike what they have tried and will discontinue their use of the item. It is important for parents to stress the harm that alcohol, smoking, tobacco and drugs can cause if used by teenagers.

Some teens who like what they have tried will continue to use these items and cannot live without them or function without them. This is considered substance abuse. Substance abuse can cause serious medical problems and emotional problems in teens because they are so young and do not know how to handle problems that might arise from their substance abuse. The illegal drug used most by teens these days is marijuana, even though many teens abuse prescription drugs found in their own home or household chemicals as inhalants. Teens use alcohol or drugs to fit in with their friends or just because they like how these items make them feel.

It has been found that teens who have parents with alcohol and drug abuse problems will have an increased risk in developing substance abuse problems of their own. Teens who also are not close with their parents or who do not feel valued by their parents are also at a higher risk for developing a substance abuse problem during their teenager years. Alcohol and drug abuse problems are a leading cause of death or injuries suffered in teenagers in accidents, suicides, violence and drowning. Studies have been released that substance abuse in teens can lead to pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases and HIV because of unprotected sex.